Meniere's Disease Support Group

Meniere's disease is a balance disorder of the inner ear. The symptoms of Meniere's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, "classic Meniere's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms: Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.

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/ Meniere's Disease Support Group

Hearing Aid?

msink
msink

Just wondering if anyone with Meniere's has tried a hearing aid? The repeated episodes of my Meniere's disease has caused major hearing loss in one ear. I have only 10% hearing left in that ear. I tried the "cross-over" style hearing aid, and did not like it. I was told that a traditional style hearing aid would not be helpful with Meniere's disease. This was a few years ago, so I was just wondering if there is anything else new out there? Or if anyone else has tried a different kind of hearing aid?



Thanks!

TaleMasterTOV
TaleMasterTOV
From my experience, doctors don't understand the kind of hearing loss that MD causes. They do a "can you hear this note" test, but never ask me what pitch it is. This is so frustrating because hearing isn't binary. There are so many aspects to perception that go beyond simply "hearing" the note or not hearing it.

I did my own tests and discovered that my bad ear hears things at two or three notes higher than my good ear, which makes singing very difficult. It also makes conversations sound like the radio dialogue from the Star Wars Episode 4 Death Star battle (garbled), so even if I can tell somebody is talking, phone conversations are no longer possible with that ear.

Needless to say, this rules out most kinds of hearing aids for me. The ones I tried just make the Death Star conversations louder and the music more incoherent.


Not sure if this is the same experience for you, but I figured I'd put it out there.
MoMoL
MoMoL
I would agree that a hearing aid is not useful if your hearing loss includes any kind of distortion. I spent a long, aggravating time dealing with my HMO and the hearing aid provider, which was Hear USA. Many hours and return visits to be fitted for the hearing aid, which ultimately, I have never been able to use. I complained repeatedly that it seemed to make my hearing worse, while the provider insisted I was resisting getting used to it, and Hear USA would test me for range of sounds heard, that is, beeps, etc., while the real problem was I couldn't decipher words, as the sounds were too distorted. The hearing aid simply made my distortions louder, and also seemed to cause more disturbances with my overall symptoms. You're fortunate you have a doctor who seems to understand some of the issues and you'll avoid going through the same useless process. But of course, not everyone's symptoms are the same.
rose07042k
rose07042k
I wear a hearing aid since 2013 and this year is the only year that I does not like it. I have more episode of things becoming very loud (the last few months). I want to throw away my hearing aid but I am trying to be patience. My ENT just said that "That's meniere's, do you want the shuts or surgery?"